Simpson to lead National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

A policy expert with Bayer Crop Science will be the new CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Duane Simpson will start July 14. Simpson is a Kansas native who has spent 17 years at Bayer, leading state and federal government relations. Before joining Bayer, Simpson worked at the Kansas Grain and Feed Association…Continue Reading

Words of wisdom for the grad’s next chapter

Commentary. Although the June solstice is still a couple of weeks away, many view the Memorial Day holiday as their official kick-off to summer. High school and college graduations are in the rear-view mirror. Proms and FFA banquets, field days and class trips are no more than memories and hundreds of photos on someone’s mom’s…Continue Reading

Decent basis in southern Minnesota

A crop farmer in south-central Minnesota says local cash prices are decent. Tim Waibel of Courtland tells Brownfield the basis for soybeans is firming up. “Running a zero basis on the soybeans into ADM and CHS in Mankato.” He says the best corn basis is about 60 miles away. “That’d be an eight cent negative…Continue Reading

Ohio Pork makes large donation to help fight food insecurity

Photo provided by the Ohio Pork Council. The Ohio Pork Council is helping address food insecurity with several donations of fresh pork across the state through its Pork Power program. President-elect Jarred Black says donations were recently made to the Cincinnati-based Freestore Foodbank and the Grove City-based Mid-Ohio Food Collective. “Ohio is in the top 10 and 7th nationally in…Continue Reading

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 28, 2025

Jul. corn closed at $4.51, down 8 and 1/2 centsJul. soybeans closed at $10.47 and 1/2, down 14 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $293.70, down $2.60Jul. soybean oil closed at 48.93, down 64 pointsJul. wheat closed at $5.30 and 1/4, up 1 and 3/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $213.92, down $1.20Aug. feeder cattle closed…Continue Reading

Whole milk bill to get Senate Ag Committee hearing

Legislation that would bring whole milk back to school-based nutrition programs will get a hearing before the Senate Ag Committee. Senate Bill 222 is the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and if passed, would modify the National School Lunch Act to offer a variety of fluid milk including flavored and unflavored organic or nonorganic…Continue Reading

USDA boosts state meat processing reimbursement

The USDA will increase its reimbursement for meat and poultry inspection programs this year and the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says it’s appreciated. Ted McKinney tells Brownfield “what this provides is the funding that gets USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service up to the 50 percent level, that’s been…Continue Reading

Broiler sets, placements 1% ahead of last year

2025 broiler sets and placements continue to maintain their faster than 2024 pace. The USDA says 252.076 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubators last week, rising 553,000 from the previous week and 1% from a year ago, with average hatchability just over 79%. 193.558 million broiler-type chicks were placed into meat production, down 122,000…Continue Reading

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